What is the Suzuki Method?
Suzuki Method is one of the most successful music teaching approaches that revolutionized stringed instruments education worldwide. It had a significant effect in performance of stringed worldwide.
Japanese violinist, Shinichi Suzuki, developed his methods based on language inquisition, using a combination development of Listening, Repetition, Learning Environment, Positive Feedback, and belief that given the right environment, support and encouragement every child has the innate ability, and right to learn music. Suzuki emphasized the importance of children’s development in music, and its role in defining their future selves.
He designed a set of pieces carefully developed for teaching elements of violin playing step-by-step to teach the technical and musical skills that children need to become excellent musicians, and ingenious ways in communicating complex skills to children by combining fun games, and discipline.
Other than teaching thousands of students worldwide, he trained hundreds of teachers in his system. Suzuki Associations worldwide have been developing the material that he taught for several decades and keep training teachers and students.
Suzuki Triangle:
The famous Suzuki Triangle indicates that for effective learning three there are 3 participants in the learning process, and should work together: student, teacher and parent.
The parent provides the environment where the child can learn and grow.
The teacher provides the lessons.
The child listens to recordings and practices.
What is Expected from Parents?
Parents can be considered as “organizers” in general: “practice secretaries” in class, and “practice cheerleaders” at home.
Other than bringing the child to class, parents are responsible for providing a musical environment at home. Parents play Suzuki recordings at home so that the student can listen, relate to the music and get to know and sing with them. It makes a huge difference in kids motivation, learning process, and memorizations when they learn they learn a piece they have already heard several times.
Parents are present in class (fully or partially depending on the discretion of teacher), to take notes about what needs to be practiced at home, and to learn how to help the child. They don’t need to be musicians, but they need to take some interest in the learning process.
Parents help with practice at home, and provide the discipline o practice of music. Just the same as parents set a time for children to wake up, help them get dressed for school, provide a time and place for eating, they must also, help define a daily practice routine. Initially, parents are required to practice with their child and guide them through it, and gradually children become more independent.
Group Lessons:
Stringed instruments are ensemble instruments. They are meant to be played together, and it is in playing together that the joy and fun of music can flourish. Other than learning the skills necessary to play together, in playing with their peers, students get very valuable feedback, and motivation. Suzuki method group classes are designed to be joyful and fun, and where a lot of previously learnt skills can be reviewed, reinforced and developed.